Generic Name: ampicillin and sulbactam (am pi SIL in and sul BAK tam)
Brand names: Unasyn, Unasyn ADD-Vantage
What is ampicillin and sulbactam?
Ampicillin and sulbactam are antibiotics in the penicillin group of drugs. They fight bacteria in your body.
The combination of ampicillin and sulbactam is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria.
Ampicillin and sulbactam may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about ampicillin and sulbactam?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ampicillin and sulbactam or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), carbenicillin (Geocillin), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.
Before using ampicillin and sulbactam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others, or if you have asthma, kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, mononucleosis (also called "mono"), or a history of any type of allergy.
Ampicillin and sulbactam can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Before using ampicillin and sulbactam, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills. Use this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Ampicillin and sulbactam will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not give this medication to another person, even if they have the same symptoms you do.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using ampicillin and sulbactam?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ampicillin and sulbactam or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as:
amoxicillin (Amoxil, Amoxicot, Biomox, Dispermox, Trimox);
carbenicillin (Geocillin);
dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen);
oxacillin (Bactocill); or
penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, and others).
Before using ampicillin and sulbactam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others), or if you have:
kidney disease;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
mononucleosis (also called "mono");
a history of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics; or
a history of any type of allergy.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Ampicillin and sulbactam can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Before using ampicillin and sulbactam, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills. Ampicillin and sulbactam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I use ampicillin and sulbactam?
Ampicillin and sulbactam is given as an injection into a muscle or through an IV needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. When it is given as an IV injection, this medicine must be given slowly, and can take up to 30 minutes to complete.
You may be shown how to use your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of needles, IV tubing, and other items used in giving the medicine.
Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.
Use this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using ampicillin and sulbactam.
Store ampicillin and sulbactam at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include confusion, behavior changes, a severe skin rash, urinating less than usual, or seizure (black-out or convulsions).
What should I avoid while using ampicillin and sulbactam?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
Ampicillin and sulbactam side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
diarrhea that is watery or bloody; or
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms.
Less serious side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, bloating, gas;
vaginal itching or discharge;
headache;
itching;
swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue;
thrush (white patches or inside your mouth or throat); or
pain, swelling, or other irritation where the needle is placed.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Ampicillin and sulbactam Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Aspiration Pneumonia:
1.5 to 3 g IV every 6 to 8 hours. Parenteral therapy should continue until the patient's condition stabilizes, at which time appropriate oral antimicrobial therapy may be initiated.
Therapy of documented anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections should be continued until after the infiltrate has been cleared, or a residual scar forms, sometimes requiring as long as 2 to 4 months.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Deep Neck Infection:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM every 6 to 8 hours. Parenteral therapy should continue until the patient's condition stabilizes, at which time appropriate oral antimicrobial therapy may be initiated.
Therapy should continue for 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Epiglottitis:
1.5 to 3 g IV every 6 to 8 hours. Parenteral therapy should continue until the patient's condition stabilizes, at which time appropriate oral antimicrobial therapy may be initiated.
Therapy should continue for 7 to 10 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Intraabdominal Infection:
1.5 to 3 g IV every 6 to 8 hours for 7 to 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Joint Infection:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM every 6 to 8 hours for 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. Longer therapy, for 6 weeks or more, may be required for prosthetic joint infections.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Osteomyelitis:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM every 6 to 8 hours for 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. Chronic osteomyelitis may require additional oral antibiotic therapy, possibly for up to 6 months.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM every 6 to 8 hours. Parenteral therapy should be continued for at least 48 hours after clinical signs of improvement are observed. Oral therapy may then be substituted to complete a 14 days course.
Oral doxycycline therapy for 7 days should be considered to treat possible concurrent chlamydia infection in males and nonpregnant females. Evaluation of the patient's sexual partner(s) is also recommended.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Peritonitis:
1.5 to 3 g IV every 6 to 8 hours for 10 to 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Pneumonia:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM every 6 to 8 hours. Therapy should continue for 7 days if pneumococcal pneumonia is suspected and up to 21 days if other organisms are responsible.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Pyelonephritis:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM every 6 to 8 hours. Parenteral therapy should continue until the patient is clinically stable at which time, oral therapy may be instituted and continued until a 14 day course of treatment has been completed.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM every 6 to 8 hours for 7 to 10 days, or for 3 days after acute inflammation resolves, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.
For more severe infections, such as diabetic soft tissue infections, 14 to 21 days of therapy may be required.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Surgical Prophylaxis:
1.5 to 3 g IV or IM once shortly before induction of anesthesia. The dose may be continued every 6 hours for 24 hours if desired.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Adult Dose for Urinary Tract Infection:
1.5 g IV or IM every 6 hours for 3 to 7 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.
Dosages expressed reflect the combined ampicillin and sulbactam components (in a constant 2:1 ratio).
Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningitis:
1 month to 1 year: 50 to 75 mg/kg (ampicillin) IV every 6 hours
>1 year to 12 years: 50 to 100 mg/kg (ampicillin) IV every 6 hours
Maximum dose: 8 g ampicillin/24 hours
What other drugs will affect ampicillin and sulbactam?
Before using ampicillin and sulbactam, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
allopurinol (Zyloprim);
probenecid (Benemid); or
an antibiotic such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, Neo-Tab), netilmicin (Netromycin), streptomycin, tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobi).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with ampicillin and sulbactam. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
More ampicillin and sulbactam resources
- Ampicillin and sulbactam Side Effects (in more detail)
- Ampicillin and sulbactam Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Ampicillin and sulbactam Drug Interactions
- Ampicillin and sulbactam Support Group
- 1 Review for Ampicillin and sulbactam - Add your own review/rating
Compare ampicillin and sulbactam with other medications
- Aspiration Pneumonia
- Bone infection
- Deep Neck Infection
- Epiglottitis
- Intraabdominal Infection
- Joint Infection
- Kidney Infections
- Meningitis
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Peritonitis
- Pneumonia
- Skin Infection
- Surgical Prophylaxis
- Urinary Tract Infection
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about ampicillin and sulbactam.
See also: ampicillin and sulbactam side effects (in more detail)
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